The Supreme Court of Virginia struck down an executive order by the governor to grant voting rights to convicted felons. The Court’s majority decision indicated that the governor did not have the right to issue such a sweeping order. However the governor has vowed to issue and sign over 200,000 individual orders to restore each felon’s voting rights.
Key Takeaways:
- In a 4-3 ruling announced Friday, the Supreme Court of Virginia struck down Governor Terry McAuliffe’s executive order that restored voting rights to over 200,000 felons
- “The men and women whose voting rights were restored by my executive action should not be alarmed,” he wrote. “I will expeditiously sign nearly 13,000 individual orders to restore the fundamental rights of the citizens who have had their rights restored and registered to vote. And I will continue to sign orders until I have completed restoration for all 200,000 Virginians.”
- Writing for the majority in Friday’s ruling, Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons said McAuliffe violated the state constitution by issuing such widespread clemency.
“Writing for the majority in Friday’s ruling, Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons said McAuliffe violated the state constitution by issuing such widespread clemency.”
